A St George’s man who took part in a spree of night robberies on the Island’s roads has been sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment in the Supreme Court.Jaron Roberts, 20, of Great Bay Road, targeted non-Bermudians across three parishes on the night of March 14, 2011, driving a motorcycle for an accomplice who threatened victims with an imitation gun.The two initially evaded police in a chase around Devonshire, but were caught later at a police checkpoint.In a last plea for mercy before Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons, Roberts said he had been led astray by “so-called friends” after he grew frustrated with his motocross biking career.“I have a lot of youth that look up to me,” Roberts said, as his girlfriend and family sat behind him in court. “I just want to get out and try and let them know this is not the right road for them.”Roberts had been awaiting trial along with 18-year-old Kamrone Whiting. The Crown has dropped charges against Mr Whiting.Prosecutor Susan Mulligan told the court that Roberts’ refusal to identify his accomplice, under oath, resulted in his co-accused being released back into the community.Roberts “had no need for these stolen goods,” Ms Mulligan added.“He had a good home and everything he wanted. He was about to set off on his dreams, and his parents were helping him. There is no explanation for his behaviour.”Even though Roberts did not personally use the weapon against the pair’s victims, he received a mandatory ten-year sentence for the use of a firearm in an indictable offence added to six years for robbery, concurrent with three years for attempted robbery.Also concurrent to the sentence was 18 months for handling stolen goods. Roberts initially acted alone in snatching a bag from tourist Gregor Reid last March 14, but later told police his friend had become upset because he had gone out on his own.Justice Simmons noted that Roberts appeared to selectively target guest workers, in the subsequent series of attacks.At 10.15pm that night, Mexican citizen Luz Maria Lorhan was driving on her cycle in Pembroke when a bike driven by Roberts cut across her. The passenger pointed what appeared to be a gun at her. Ms Lorhan was forced to stop, and the pair drove off with the basket off her bike.At 10.30pm, guest worker Joseph Daos fled the pair after having the weapon pointed at his head. Mr Daos also required treatment in hospital after being struck in the face with what he believed was a real gun.Not long after, Ms Mulligan said, Jesse Prady was knocked off his bike near Cobbs Hill in Warwick, and robbed of a crash helmet.At 11pm, US visitor Jackson Kernion, on the Island with his Harvard a cappella group, was forced to pull over and was punched in the face after his assailants found he had nothing.Two women employed by Blu Bar and Grill were forced to pull over and threatened after they left their job. But their attackers fled after their screams caught the attention of a co-worker.At 12.13am last March 15, accountant Jeffrey Cowan was forced to pull over along Harbour Road and ordered to empty his wallet.After his apprehension, Roberts initially denied taking part in the attacks, but confessed to police on March 19, telling officers: “The truth shall set you free.”Defence lawyer Charles Richardson pointed out Roberts had no prior offences and had a large number of statements attesting to his good character.Roberts did not himself wield the weapon that night, Mr Richards said, maintaining that the idea to commit the offences had not been his client’s.“They were on a roll,” Mr Richards told Justice Simmons, “and there may not have been time for him to reflect and appreciate on his actions.”Mr Richards also asked the court not to penalise Roberts for his choice not identifying his accomplice.“The choice to give evidence against an individual who had a firearm is a serious decision,” he said, describing Roberts as “a young man who seemed to have everything going for him”.In passing sentence, Justice Simmons told Roberts: “You were going for gold in your chosen sport. But if you could fall so far in your goals, it makes any reasonable observer wonder if there is any hope for our youth.”